Spindle Removal/Installation

[susieranger]

I'm trying to replace the spindle on my 2wd 3.0 '92 Ranger and am having a problem getting it off. I've removed the two nuts and the one bolt and also the top joint "insert", but it still doesn't want to drop down. I've sprayed it pretty good with wd40 and banged on it pretty good with a hammer, but I'm kind of afraid I might damage the threads or something if I keep banging on it. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get this steering linkage etc. to drop down? Thanks.

 

[metalmacguyver]

a pickle fork or a TRE puller are the tools that are supposed to be used.

 

[susieranger]

Spindle

Thanks. The frustrating thing is that I helped the guy remove it at the junkyard, and the steering linkage just dropped off after removing the nut. Then the bottom balljoint and the whole spindle just dropped right off after removing the nut/bolt and hammering out the upper ball joint "insert". It looked so easy then LOL. The only problem we had was getting off the nuts with a crescent wrench.

 

[metalmacguyver]

yeah, having the proper tool makes all the difference in the world. last night i put a pair of 1" coil spacers on my truck. i had to remove the nut that is at the bottom of the coil spring. i didnt have a socket that could reach over the stud. i had a wrench that fit it and quickly realized that that would be very difficult to try to use. so at 9:15 i ran out to see if Sears was still open and found that they were open till 9:30. i got a deep 1 1/8" socket, came home, dropped iton the nut with an extention, put my ratchet on it and it came right off. it had also had a few days of soaking with PB Blaster to make it easier.

i used to use WD-40. then i tried liquid wrench and PB Blaster and found that PB blaster worked the best. way better than WD-40 IMHO. the only dissadvantage is that it smells more. i dont mind it but my sister and mom do when i forget to close the basement door and the smell gets into the house.

also if you have one, try using a large brass hammer so that you will be less likely to deform the threads. it will not damage the threads and other parts as quickly.

 

[Insanejughead]

Getting those ball joint remover/separator tools are an easy find. Just stop by an O'reilly's (or similar auto parts) store and rent them.

It's $150 or so for the set, but you get all that money back when you return it.

 

[susieranger]

I appreciate you guys help. Tonight I used the Pittman Puller to separate the steering linkage from the spindle with no problem, and now I guess I'm down to using the ball joint separator to try and separate the lower joint from the spindle. One problem that I noticed when using the Pittman Puller to separate from the steering linkage was that the grease seal on the steering linkage had a pinhead sized hole in it with a little grease oozing out of it. Anyone think that is something that I should try and deal with now or should I hold off until later? Not sure how big of a job that would be and how important it is at this point. Thanks.

 

[Insanejughead]

Is that a grease fitting? or is it actually coming out of some other part of the linkage?

Could you get a pic next time you look. I don't completely understand, so that would help me. Someone else could already know how to help though.

 

[metalmacguyver]

all of my TREs have holes in the rubber. its fine as long as grease is coming out and crap isnt going in.

 

[MAKG]

You can buy replacement TRE grease cups from Help! and Energy Suspension (in pretty bright colors), and several others. They are CHEAP, just a few dollars. IMO, it's entirely worth it to replace them while you have them apart.